This month, the Socorro Chamber of Commerce is featuring local artist Lily Ward. Her nature-inspired paper-craft pieces will be on display at the COC through July.

Art is a passion for Ward.

“If I could do it all the time, I definitely would,” Ward says.

Originally from Boston, Ward started creating art in high school.

“I started out working mostly with paint,” she said. “But I found out when I was in school that I liked the precision of cutting paper. You can cut really straight lines and be really exact and precise, and that appeals to me. I mainly work with cut paper now.”

All eight of the pieces she’s put on display are paper pieces. According to COC Director Terry Tadano, this unique medium was part of why she was chosen.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that,” said Tadano.

He added that the time-consuming nature of Ward’s art impressed him as well. “(It’s a) different media (sic) than I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Her style is very geometric and simple, but it has an organic feel to it. It’s not surprising, then, that she cites the outdoors as a major source of inspiration.

“I like lots of color and lots of movement — just all the patterns of nature,” she said.

There is one in particular, though, that she made for her daughter, who gave her a quote in German: “Auf dem das Lebens ich bin nur ein Vogel. Ich setze mich auf den Ã„ster und Singen.” This translates to “On the tree of life, I am but a bird. I sit on my branch and sing.”

Ward met her husband, Michael, in Flagstaff, Ariz., 15 years ago. Michael had family in Socorro, so two years later, they moved and have lived in Socorro County ever since.

Currently, she lives on a farm, which gives her ready access to what she most loves about Socorro, and her greatest inspiration — nature.

“I like the landscape here,” she said. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve discovered there are about 50 shades of green, and that it’s actually really pretty.”

Between her art and her day job, she enjoys gardening and growing flowers, fruit and vegetables.